Band Of Skulls Live Review + Tom Biggs

Last night I once agian had the privilage of seeing a great band live, this time Band Of Skulls at The Fleece in Bristol.

First to take to the stage was the clearly intimidated and nervous Tom Biggs armed with only an acoustic guitar. Yet out of this normal looking guy came one of the deepest, most resonant and soulfull voices I've heard, sounding slightly put on occasionally and sometimes in need of a Soother, it was still an unusual and interesting voice to listen to and when coupled with with the heartfelt and emotive guitar made for a great support act. He was pleasantly surprising and had some good songs, especially 'Two Taps' and 'Wicked One'. Since I saw him yesterday I've been listening to his songs on Myspace and they're pretty good.I'll put the link at the bottom of this post in case you want to check them out.

Then after an age Band Of Skulls started their set. Opening with new material then really getting the gig going with their third song of 'Patterns'. They played their songs expertly and most importantly with dedication and heart; you felt that they meant what they were playing and singing. They didn't just recreate their brilliant album on stage but gave a performance where they imporvised and played the songs to the best that they could be and much rockier than when it's recorded.

Also Russell Marsden's performance was, for lack of a more powerful word, incredible. He played his numerous guitars astoundingly and seemed to be playing what would usually take at least two people to perform as he played both individual notes as well as chords and the amazing bluesy riffs that define their songs. He was also simultaneously singing, giving an energetic performance and manipulating the music with the various effects pedals; I'm not certain that he's human. His imporvised solos were incredible and showed how well the band works as they all kept time with each other and allowed each other to have fun and do what they wanted. Emma Richardson sounded even better live and played brilliantly as did Matt Hayward.

Playing a mix of well known old songs which were extremely well recieved and promising new material they did a great gig and I would definetly recommend them to anyone how is a fan of rock and intricate guitar so please check them out, I've put their most successful single 'I Know What I Am' below.  Highlights of their set were 'Patterns', 'Hollywood Bowl', 'Death By Diamonds and Pearls' and 'Impossible' which they ended with on an soaring high. A great gig!

http://www.myspace.com/tomtaylorbiggs

Song To Check Out

There's a song that has been stuck in my head for days and is a truly fantastic song that has been sorely overlooked in the charts. The song I am refering to is 'Come Closer' by Miles Kane. Kane is no stranger to brilliance as the former front man of The Rascals and then teaming up with another witty  Northern lyracist, Alex Turner, in The Last Shadow Puppets and now he's branched out to work solo and the product is a catchy and memorable song which should be played much more than it is.
Hope you like it!

Track of the Week

This weeks track goes to Noah and the Whale with 'L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N'. It's been out for a few weeks now and is a real grower of a song. It's sweet, easy going and will bring a smile to your face. The perfect feel good indie song that would be comfortably at home in many a indie film such as Juno. Hope you like it!

Red Nose Day

There is a huge host of various skits and sketches to look forward to this Red Nose Day, for example the hilarious Doctor Who and Noel Fielding's amazing Wuthering Heights dance that was on Let's Dance for Comic Relief and beneath all of the hilarity and brilliance there is a very real and important message. When there are so many millions of people living in abject poverty and in hellish conditions there is nothing else to do but help; there's no question of an if just a how much? There are a few things that define humanity and our most redeeming quality is our ability to love so when presented with a day like today let's be the best we can be and donate whatever we can.
Below is a link to the Comic Relief's home page and please go to it and contribute whatever you're able and willing to do, thanks.

http://www.comicrelief.com/

Below is also Noel's amazing performance which unfortunately didn't win but definitely should have; enjoy!

Track of the Week

This weeks track goes to The Strokes new offering. After a five year hiatus they're back, but could they live up to their former greatness or was their own shadow to stifling? Thankfully not! This song is just as good as their old classics with it's drawling riffs and catchy chorus yet different enough to show that they're still developing and evolving as a band and not resting on their not considerable laurels. Quite simply a great track.

Norwegian Wood Film Review

Norwegian Wood is a Japanese subtitled film based on the novel of the same name by Haruki Murakami and is essentially a love story, albeit a tragic one.  Set in the 60's this film depicts the tale of a boy who's best friend inexplicably commits suicide leaving behind his long term closest friend and girlfriend, Naoko. Searching for a way out the protagonist, Watanabe, goes to university in Tokyo and encounters Naoko in a chance meeting and gradually their feelings grow even if all is not well within her troubled mind. After her twentieth birthday she commits herself to a mental health institution and Watanabe meets the charming and confident Midori and the rest of the narrative is his love of the two polar opposite women.

I loved this film. It's beautifully shot allowing the landscape to weave it's way into the narrative and express the various emotions portrayed within which are intensely performed by all the actors. However for all it's sweeping shots this film is incredibly claustrophobic. You are never introduced to any people or places that are of no importance to the few main characters and the film stays tight to them throughout showing their small insular group that orbits around the extreme loves that has both disastrous and perfect repercussions.
Sound has also been used expertly within Norwegian Wood. For example the silence within the film is often stifling and creates an atmosphere of intensity, so much so that you almost feel uncomfortable watching parts of it as it is so personal. Then there's the music. Scored by Jonny Greenwood, from Radiohead, it's no surprise that it's exquisitely beautiful. It perfectly fits the film and accentuates each emotion and plot development.

To describe this film in one word I would say beautiful; it's a veritable feast for your eyes and ears. I would definitely recommend this film but maybe not for everybody, if you enjoy slow films about the power of emotions there's none better but if you like past paced easy watching films then it's not for you. It's a real shame that it has only been released in a minority of cinemas because it deserves to be seen by many more people. 

Arctic Monkeys Album Teaser

Arctic Monkeys have shocked everyone by releasing a new short song seemingly the second they've finished recording it in California with no explanation or clues as to when their new album will be out.
So apart from the surprise of the shock release what's the song actually like? Well reviews have been mixed and fans appear to be split with some ecstatic and others thoroughly nonplussed. One of the word that keeps popping up when this song is described is change and it's true this track is a million miles away from their first influential and no nonsense album. Instead of the clear thrashing drums, powerful bass and intricate lyrics which defined their earlier work it's now distorted, fuzzy, simplistic and reminiscent of the 70's. They no longer sound like the monumental band that came from no where and ruled the rock scene with their witty lyrics and simple riffs but now more like the long gone rock elite.
Some will celebrate this change in direction as it shows that they're evolving as a band and not resting on their laurels and I agree that it's important to grow as a band. Others will say that this change is a loss as through their development as a band they've lost what it was that made them so great and I regrettably have to agree as well. I don't dislike this song and found that it grows on you the more you listen to it but when compared to their old material it just feels like something is missing. 
 I'll be eagerly awaiting the release of more material to see whether they have successfully managed to keep the essence of what makes them great whilst simultaneously developing. 

Track of the Week

This weeks instalment goes to Cage The Elephant's new single 'Shake Me Down'. After their impressive aggressive début their back with a more thoughtful and chilled out sound. Harsh chords juxtaposed with soft guitar and a recurring riff that drives the song makes for interesting listening to. It has incredibly catchy lyrics and the singer has a distinctive voice that stands out from other artists and makes this track memorable. Simply a fantastic song and a good video.

Never Let Me Go Review

Never Let Me Go is a beautiful film based on the superb novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro. Set in a bleak dystopia it portrays the brief lives of three 'test tube babies' who exist solely to become organ donors in their twenties and stars Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Kiera Knightly. Whilst this seems like it would lend itself to a run of the mill sci-fy film with action and sparkling labs this film is unashamedly sentimental and focuses on the human elements of the tale.
The plot revolves around the three main characters and follows their development in a world where they are perceived as sub-human and indoctrinated into believing it; so much so that they don't even fight it for their love. You're shown how they try and understand their own existence as well as coming to terms with growing up and surviving the minefield of friendship, love and lust.
It's so fantastically acted that you completely lose yourself in the disturbing world where human rights are overlooked in order to prolong life yet are not completely distracted by this concept but instead focus on the main characters and their personal story. This helps the viewer to fully understand the horror of using people to harvest their organs as it explores how humans can look the other way and it is only when we are shown personal stories that we allow ourselves to feel.

As well as this this film explores our relationship to mortality and what we do with our allotted time alive which ultimately comes down to the people we love and that one of the worst thing we could possibly do is put off acknowledging that love and live in fear of it. This idea is heart wrenchingly portrayed through the bitter sweet plot where two of the characters only admit their love when they're nearing the inevitable donations. The loss of this love and knowledge that it could have been so much more had they only acted on it earlier coupled with the horrific yet sterile and business like death makes this film incredibly powerful and will undoubtedly leave you weeping.
 Of all the films I've seen this is one of the most touching and thought provoking and I would recommend anyone who appreciates films that make you think to both read the book and watch the heart breaking film.